Sharon's Breast Cancer Journey

Sharon Alexander is good friend that has had a very difficult life, but is a survivor and a great person.  She was abandoned as a child, was told as a teenager she would be blind, but wouldn't accept the diagnosis. After several operations she was able to see and got her drivers license in her late 20s. The challenges continued with a diagnosis of breast cancer as a healthy 46 year old; she dealt with it bravely, had surgery on June 1 and the Dr. said all signs were good. Then the results came back and the cancer has spread; now another surgery is needed, chemotherapy, radiation...and her biggest concern isn't the surviving the cancer, but keeping the room she rents, making the medical co-payments and surviving financially since she will not be able to work as a waitress at times during this process. Since she lives paycheck-to-paycheck, this is her biggest fear. This is how Sharon describes her situation and the genesis behind this reluctant "ask" for help: 

"My name is Sharon Alexander. I’m reaching out for help because I find myself with a potentially life threatening disease. Breast cancer. I’m a runner. I like to work out and I eat healthy. This wasn’t supposed to happen to me. I bet that’s what most people say when they’re told they have cancer. None of the women in my family have had breast cancer.
It’s a wave of emotions that one goes through when you are told “you have cancer.” Mostly it just feels like you’ve fallen down a dark deep well. The things I fear the most are:
 
• Not being able to care for myself
• Loosing the place where I live
• Not being able to work
• Being sick
• Not making a full recovery
• Being disfigured

If it’s my time to die, then I will die. If it’s my time to be sick, then I will try to do it with courage. Every day I try and keep my focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Staying brave so I can work, and crying when I need to cry. I realize that if I had all the money in the world, it wouldn’t change the emotional roller coaster that I am faced with every day. I ask for your help to ease the stress of the financial burden that comes with having cancer.

It makes my heart heavy to know that every person who reads this has probably known someone who has passed away or suffered from cancer. Not understanding the "why" is difficult. All I can do is stay positive, be present, and try to be a beacon of light for those who will come after me."

Anything that you can do to help Sharon is deeply appreciated.